Zoo, Singapore

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This is the world first night zoo. Try to be there at about 7pm as the period of time is the best to catch the animals when they are in their most alert state. Catching the animal show is also a must as it liven up the stay. You can choose to take a tram to go round the park. It will take you about 45mins. But I prefer to walk as you can observe the animals at you own pace. The entrance is SGD20 for adults and SGD 10 children (3 - 12 years). The tram ride is SGD8 for adults and SGD4 for children.

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I have been to many zoos, reserves and safaris but this is one of the more organised one and with a good variety of animals. If you are bringing your kids, bring extra change for the Children's World. There is a playground with fountains and water guns..a must-go especially when the weather is hot and humid. Have a map with you and plan your itinerary to coincide with the animals shows and feeding times. You can either walk or take the tram round the zoo. There is also a picnic ground for you to see around to enjoy your lunch facing the resevoir. The entrance fee with tram rides is SGD19 for adult and SGD9.50 for kids. You can also try to purchase double parks passes at a cheaper rate. Please check with the counter.

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from Orchard road take MRT to stop NS16 then bus 138. Takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and cost is around $2.50 SGD. A taxi ride for the similar trip is $15.00 SGD. The Zoo opens at 8:30 am; we arrived early and were able to book in for Jungle breakfast for a cost of $18.00 SGD per person. I highly recommend this experience it is amazing, I would even recommend booking in before you arrive to ensure you get a table. The food is fantastic and has a wide variety so you will find something you like. The highlight however is the animals that are brought out to dine with you. An otter and snake make a brief appearance but the star is the orang-utan. The opportunity to take photos with the animals is unique and a really fun time. The shows that appear through out the zoo at different times are all of high quality and really enjoyable. It is a fantastic way to spend the day.

from Orchard road take MRT to stop NS16 then bus 138. Takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and cost is around $2.50 SGD. A taxi ride for the similar trip is $15.00 SGD. Zoo closes at around 12:00am but be aware last train leaves 11:30 pm. This is nothing more flash than a normal zoo but obviously at night. I found the zoo fairly disappointing. It can be extremely crowded and the cost of food is very high. I would recommend saving money and time and do the Singapore Day Zoo.

Its very exciting looking at ze animals at night. Better to buy a package tour including admission & tram to ze jungle, it costs 22.86 $S per 1 adult. I always take ze last seat on ze tram, so ya can have more time to look at ze animals & sometimes ya can feel ze mistery of ze jungle. Ya also can walk around on the Wlaking Trails in Night Safari, so you can see more animals then.
Dun't miss Creatures of Night show, very fun & interesting. Its free!

Orang Utans
The Singapore Zoo displays a large social group of 26 orang utans in a spacious naturalistic enclosure. Though not the only zoo in the world to display a social group of orang utans, we are the only ones who have done so on such a large scale.

The provision of a large enclosure and lots of climbing platforms allow the orang utans to get away from their group members and enjoy moments of peace when needed. The platforms not only allow the apes to develop their natural climbing skills but also serve as escape routes for them should fighting break out.

These highly intelligent animals have to be kept occupied or boredom will consume them, which occurs ever so often in captivity. We keep the orang utans busy through the use of a technique known as behavioural enrichment.

The ability to breed is a good indication of the state of physical and emotional health of a zoo animal, and we are proud to have bred a total of 21 orang utans to date. We have sent some of our orang utans to zoos in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia and New Zealand as part of the worldwide exchange programme to facilitate breeding of this highly endangered ape.

Ah Meng, the Sumatran orang utan

For many Singaporeans, the Singapore Zoo is synonymous with Ah Meng, the Sumatran orang utan. Ah Meng was seven years old in 1971 when she was confiscated from the Chinese family which had illegally kept her as a pet. Subsequently, she found her home in the Singapore Zoo.

Ah Meng was the first to host our famous 'Breakfast With An Orang Utan' programme. She soon became a celebrity, both locally and internationally. She has been featured in over 30 travel films and 'interviewed' by more than 300 writers. In 1992, Ah Meng received a special award from the Singapore Tourism Promotion Board, in recognition of her contribution towards tourism in Singapore.

Ah Meng also contributed to the Singapore Zoo's captive breeding programme. She has had five children so far and became a grandmother in 1990.

Size : 28 hectares
Animal Collection : 2,923 animals (412 species)

Opening hours : 8.30am to 6.00pm daily

Parking Charges : Cars: S$3, Buses: S$4
All prices are for parking for the whole day.

Entrance Fees (Admission Only) :
S$12.10 Adult [effective 1 January 2003]
S$ 5.05 Child (3 to 12 years old)

Tram Ride :
The tram ride covers 2.2km with three stopovers.
Charges :
S$2.50 - Adult
S$1.50 - Child (3 to 12 years old)

Animal Shows :
Shows are held daily at the newly renovated Amphitheatre & the Elephants of Asia exhibit featuring:

Spirits of the Rainforest (At Shaw Foundation Amphitheatre)
Weekdays - 10.30 am
Weekends & PH - 10.30am & 1.30pm

Elephant Show (At Elephants of Asia exhibit)
Weekdays - 11.30 am
Weekends & PH - 11.30am & 3.30pm

Sealion (At Shaw Foundation Amphitheatre)
Weekdays - 2.30 pm
Weekends & PH - 2.30pm, 5.00pm

Feeding Programme :
Token feeding programmes for different animals are held
throughout the day. Live commentaries are given by the keepers.
Animal Photography :
Instant photography with orang utans, elephants, snakes & ponies is available daily.
Fee - S$10.00 per copy

Animal Rides :
Elephant & Pony rides are available daily.

Visitor Facilities :
KFC restaurant is located at the Zoo Entrance and Playland, Children's World. Other food outlets within the Zoo offer a wide variety of items including Asian fare.

A brief history of the zoo :

The Singapore Zoological Gardens was founded by the late Dr Ong Swee Law. In the late 1960s, Dr Ong, the then Chairman of the Public Utilities Board (PUB) felt that some of the forested catchment areas adjoining the reservoirs, which came under PUB's purview, should be made more accessible to the public. Eventually, the idea of a zoo arose. With the Government's support of S$9 million and after almost six years of hard work, the Singapore Zoological Gardens finally opened its gates to guests on 27 June 1973

The local zoo is a interesting and fun place to visit. We did a night tour with dinner. The tram ride was kinda boring (fell asleep half way through). I suggest to do it during the day.

Sentosa Island was ok. Some cultural/historical interests. The aquarium/bird sanctuary was best. The beaches on the island were very nice but the view was marred by moored frieghters which encircled the entire island. Take the cable car across the channel for some great views.